This book was a little different than I was expecting. While there were some rom com elements, there are some deeper issues discussed in this book.

My favorite character was Deb, who sees it and tells it like it is. The other characters are harder to like, especially Marcus who is essentially a jerk throughout the whole book. I thought more could have been done with Rodney, he had an interesting storyline that just fizzled out in the end.

The plot switches back and forth from the past to the present as the couple’s story slowly unfolds. I enjoyed this back and forth timeline because it added an element of mystery to the plot.

All in all an entertaining story with some interesting characters.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly June New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

I liked this book, but don't be fooled by the cutesy cover. I suppose I'd still qualify this as a rom com but it hits some heavy issues and problematic behavior that I wouldn't have necessarily expected going into it. If you need trigger warnings, check them out before reading.

Addie and her sister are taking a road trip to a friend's wedding, but immediately everything that could go wrong, does go wrong. The first of which is running into (literally) Addie's ex, Dylan, who she hasn't spoken to in two years. What happened to Addie and Dylan's whirlwind romance? Will they make it to the wedding? Will the group not kill each other while packed into a tiny car for several hours? What else could go wrong?

Addie and Dylan broke up nearly two years ago. But when they (literally) run into one another en route to a mutual friend’s wedding, there’s nothing for it but to carpool the rest of the 15-hour drive. 5 adults road tripping in a Mini—what could go wrong?

I love Beth O’Leary’s style! She is a master of blending the sweet and the tart, and this book is no different. Alternating between the past and the present, we get to see Addie and Dylan fall in love, struggle to maintain their relationship in spite of external forces (and their own insecurities) and ultimately break up. But the 🔥 is still there!

There are definitely funny parts. Rodney is the quintessential fifth wheel on this trip, and I’m here for it! I feel like we’ve all met a Rodney in the past. Pretty much every section that takes place in the present is perfect sitcom fodder, but there’s also a lot of emotional baggage to unpack.

I LOVED The Flatshare and liked The Switch, and I would say this one falls solidly in between for me. I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it, even if the ending was wrapped up a little too suddenly/neatly for me. A perfect summer read!

Check it out if you like:

🚗 Second chance romance
🚗 Forced proximity
🚗 Emotional growth
🚗 Humor + heart

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Thank you to Beth O’Leary, Berkeley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. This hot, summer read is available today!

This story of a relationship and a road trip was, as expected from Beth O'Leary, really charming. Finding out what happened "then" and how it translates to "now" was engrossing, and the relationships between Addie and Dylan and their circle were interesting. The wrenches thrown in their road trip added a lot of humor and enjoyment to the story.

A book written by Beth O’Leary? Yes, please! I read her other two books and absolutely loved them, so when I saw this one on Netgalley I knew I had to read it.

While this book definitely has a different vibe to it than her other two, I still really enjoyed the writing and the characters.

I really liked the alternating POVs and timelines and felt they brought so much more to the overall story.

Be sure to grab a copy for yourself tomorrow when it hits the shelves!

Lastly, thank you to @netgalley and @berkley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for access to this arc.

There is so much more to this story than romance or love. There are class differences, self discovery, deep reflection, toxic parent/child relationships, wonderful parent/child relationships, an absolute no-fucks given sibling, homophobia, homophila, breast pumps, google mapping, traffic jams, idyllic French countryside frolicking, gap year wandering, a crammed motel room, revelations, a stalker, a castle, and country music.

Romance and laughter might get the book started but it’s soon obvious that whatever happened was dark, painful, and has scarred Addie and Dylan. The lead up is so easy and unobtrusive that this is a rare time that I was not rolling my eyes as yet another heavy hint gets dropped per chapter and I realize from early on what happened. No, this is subtle and shows how even the greatest and deepest love sometimes has to weather storms and people who think they know best and that not all people who are deeply in love can communicate worth a damn. We must see what brought Addie and Dylan together in order to understand how and why the breakup was as painful as it was. The revelation, when it arrives, is gut punching in many ways. The insights about this that arrive later are ones that needed time, therapy, and effort to be reached.

Along the way to the wedding in Scotland, Dylan begins composing a poem with the line “Unchanged but changed” which perfectly describes both he and Addie. This is something I was delighted to see taken out of the box, shaken to get the wrinkles out, then discussed. Dylan and Addie immediately realize that the feelings are still there – both the good and the bad. They remember little things they shared and often find themselves glancing at the other when something amuses or annoys them. They’re still sympatico. And yet … some things are different. Some things have changed and before any future plans are made, these are talked about. Therapy is talked about and it isn’t just Dylan and Addie who have gotten it. Still, thinking back, there were so many times when Dylan irritated me – the way he was led by everyone he knew and how so many times he wouldn’t stick up for Addie. She is the one who makes the most accommodations and compromises to keep their relationship going, IMO.

And yet, I was giggling and laughing at the bizarre assortment of people crammed in that mini and the snarky ways, at times, they interact. Kevin the Truck Driver was a great addition to the crew and the wedding is one for the ages. At times however, the actions of some of the characters made me want to shake them. Pill popping, massive drinking, out of control partying and other antics of the posh 1% are things I don’t like and don’t want to try and understand. Get over your privileged selves. By the current section, Dylan has apparently discovered self control and economizing when his rich parents cut off his access to the cash.

This is not a light and fluffy book as some characters are dark and or troubled. They are well written characters but not all ones whom people will like or cheer for. There are toxic relationships some of which I didn’t want to see continued but then, life is full of this. At one point, Dylan does finally offer a bit of insight into why he continues to hang out with one person and given how his father has always treated him, it makes sense. Other relationships are delightful such as Addie and her take-no-prisoners sister Deb and there’s one I didn’t expect involving another female friend of Dylan’s. The alternate POVs chapters assure that we, if not the other MC, know what is going on but at times Dylan and Addie’s voices read as “same same” to me making me have to double check who was relating the chapter.

Some of the self discovery steps made were baby ones and there is still growth and maturity to be attained. But things are hopeful and looking up. I do like that the causes and effects of some of the characters’ actions are delved into. But the best bonus points are for the fact that the book ends on a HFN rather than having unicorns and fluffy bunnies bebop about with bluebirds singing from the trees. Addie and Dylan are aware that their relationship still needs work and care and they seem ready to make that happen. B

Dylan and Addie met four years ago while he was on a mission chasing another girl. It became obvious immediately that the game he was playing was forgotten as soon as he met Addie. Dylan fell for her bright sunshine and felt feelings he hadn't felt before. Addie was a caretaker at the home he was renting with family and friends, but what was going to happen to them when the summer ended?
Dylan and Addie had a rocky relationship from the beginning in my opinion. They really had a lot of growing up to do and it was clear that Dylan had dependency issues, with people and with substance. Dylan's best friend Marcus didn't like Addie and that added to the downward spiral of their relationship.
Fast foward to two years after they broke up. Addie and Dylan are both traveling to their friend Cherry's wedding. When Dylan spots Addie in the car in front of him, he tenses up causing a car crash. Luckily, Addie's car is fine and she is willing to let Dylan and Marcus tag along with her and her sister and another friend. The car is packed and as they travel and hit road bumps along the way, they are forced to face the things they didn't face two years ago.
This book was heavy, but I feel like Beth O'Learly does that and while others felt like The Flatshare was a light rom com, I felt like it was a heavy book as well with the topics it covered.
It was obvious that Addie and Dylan still had a lot of love for one another, the tension between them crackled and it pulled on my heart as I read. Marcus was a pretty terrible character, both then and now, and it was hard to see where he really was growing from his mistakes. Most of the book I just wanted to slap him across the face and say "mind your business", and the explaination at the end wasn't really enough for me to warrant his behavior. We can only hope for the best after the book ends and just assume there will be continued growth.
I struggled with this book, mostly because I couldn't relate to either character, but the book is so well written and Addie's sister Deb was a shining snarky light in this book that I adored. I'm giving this one 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley and Beth O'Leary for an early copy of this book.

Beth O’Leary cemented herself as one of my favorite authors with her first two books (The Flatshare and The Switch). Needless to say, I was very, very excited when @berkleyromance offered me the opportunity to read her new book, The Road Trip, early.

The Road Trip features dual POVs and dual timelines (then and now). I really enjoyed the dual POVs - they added a lot of dimension to the story and made it very easy to sympathize with both Dylan and Addie. The dual timelines on the other hand really slowed the story down - it was obvious the author was working up to revealing Addie and Dylan’s reason for breaking up, but the process of getting there was very drawn out.

Addie and Dylan’s romance was full of ups and downs - this book tells the story of how they met through to how they broke up, through to their very awkward road trip to a mutual friend’s wedding. The start of their relationship was very par for the course for a romance novel - lots of chemistry and definitely a honeymoon phase. As the story went on, they became more realistic - they started having small fights and cramps while trying to merge their lives. That’s not to say they lost their chemistry - even when they were stuck in a tiny car together after breaking up and not speaking, they still had sparks flying. I really enjoyed how realistically their relationship was portrayed - that it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows - it made it feel like they really earned their happy ending by the end of the book.

My favorite part of this book was the colorful cast of characters - everyone from the main characters to the side characters were fascinating to learn about and had their own compelling stories. I particularly liked Deb - she provided a levity to the story and was also an excellent support system for Addie (I love a strong female friendship/sisterhood).

The Road Trip is a delightful second chance romance featuring a quirky cast of characters and a road trip for the ages. While the book does tackle some heavy topics (sexual assault, alcoholism), it does so with respect for the subject matter. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

#65 of 2021: The Road Trip: BETH O’LEARYS THIRD NOVEL COMES OUT TOMORROW (6/1)! This was a cute, fun book (like every Beth O’Leary book, tbh!) with more lovable characters that you just want to be friends with. The humor was also really well done in this book (again, another O’Leary hallmark!) But, this book does have dark parts as well, which made for a really interesting reading experience. Overall, definitely recommend this for your next summer read!

Thank you so much to @netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review!

LOVED THIS!!!! i really felt the connection between these two and that made it all believable. Second chance romance? Sign me up.

✨R E V I E W✨

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗗 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗣 𝗕𝗬 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗛 𝗢'𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗬

Swipe for @goodreads synopsis ➡️✨

Okay guys I’ve seen some major mixed reviews on Beth O’Leary’s new novel, but I didn’t hate it!! 🎉This was actually my first novel by her, so I didn’t have any expectations going in which I enjoyed!

👍🏼: This storyline was a road trip nightmare/ second-chance love trope! I’m a fan of second chance romance reads (unless you a cheater then pc out ✌🏼), so I enjoyed that aspect. I also liked the set up of the storyline flashing back & forth to learn about the characters past relationship & what went wrong. There were funny elements too as 5 wildly different people were stuck on a road trip together where EVERYTHING goes wrong 😂

👎🏼: I didn’t fall in love the characters and the story was fairly predictable. Half-way through the story started to drag a little, but overall, it was a quick, light read that turned out okay!

Thanks to @netgalley & @berkleypub for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review✨ This one is out TOMORROW 6/1!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

"You're going to break my heart, Dylan Abbott. I can feel it."
--"Nom That's- I was- we're not like that. We're different, me and you. I'll never break your heart Addie."
-"And so said every gentleman to the girl who lived in the servant's quarters, eh?"

Beth O'Leary comes at us with her 3rd novel The Road Trip and without even reading a description I knew I had to have it.
As an author, she has a captivating way of writing situations you could find yourself as a normal person in trying to solve a simple problem that feels quite heavy.

Coated in humor and romance, TRT is tender, soft and full of meaning I didn't quite expect.

With time hops from "NOW" and "THEN" we see Dylan and Addie crash into each other again after almost a 2 year break up that left them both devastated.
A car full of weirdos on a journey to a wedding will leave you laughing, swooning and almost in tears as you head to the destination, and if you're like me, you'll be completely consumed by this love story.

Read if you like:
-Jojo Moyes sophistication
-Fredrik Backman's quirky humor
- all consuming first love and second chances
-friendships and bonds that are both strong and toxic
- a great summer read to get you away for a day

Why I gave it 4 stars:
Honestly, I'm not sure. This was the first of her books that I read myself and maybe I just find her writing leveled to a new intensity with an audio narrator rather than myself but some spots felt a bit flat or irrelevant, however didn't necessarily take away from the story. I loved being in Dylan's brain and time jumping back to the beginning of their relationship. What a unique set of characters to find love. I was ALL IN!

TW: depression, abuse, rape, mental abuse

Rating:
Story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance-one true love
Steam- I think this is my first time saying that the steam was "beautiful" and poetic... you'll see
Song: High for Me by Olivia Noelle

Thank you to the publisher and author for my gifted copy ❤️

This was the perfect book to read on our road trip to Cape Cod this weekend!

Addie and her sister, Deb are on a long road trip to a friend’s wedding in Scotland when they are rear-ended by Addie’s former love, Dylan and his best friend. Addie and Dylan haven’t seen each other in 2 years so this is very awkward. They are also on the way to the wedding and they all pile into Deb’s car. They have 6 hours in a tiny car to rehash where their romance went wrong.

I enjoyed the flashbacks to how Dylan and Addie met and how the romance began. I loved the dual timelines and the dual POVs. I can’t put my finger on what I think was missing, but it just didn’t quite live up to the hype for me.

I absolutely loved the Flatshare- it was one of my favorite books of 2019. I think it would make a perfect movie. That’s still my favorite book by the author, but I’ll definitely continue read anything Beth O’Leary writes.

I honestly really enjoyed this book! This was my first read by Beth O’Leary and the nonlinear storyline and alternating narrators worked great.

There were a couple of things that I read about in other people’s reviews – and I can understand why they might have been a bit put off from them, but I have a habit of suspending belief in order to make a story work in my head, so I guess that’s what I did.

For example, the toxicity of one the characters is a lot to take. And no one should be subjected to that kind of toxic behavior – especially if it’s not by choice (it’s her boyfriend’s friend – not even her friend directly). Additionally, it is clear to many that one of the characters struggles from depression on and off throughout the entire story, but it’s often overlooked. To me, though, this was sadly realistic. Depression shows its form in so many different ways that is happens to be overlooked far too regularly.

On the other hand, I really liked the two main characters together. I loved seeing them when they first met and the reality of their lives years later while apart, when forced back in the same vicinity. Individually, Dylan drove me crazy. He definitely needed time on his own to develop a back bone and figure out what he wanted from life instead of just following everyone else around – and in my honest opinion, both Dylan and Addie had a bit of growing up to do when it came to how to treat others and be in a relationship.

The road trip part was amusing, and watching everyone interact after years of not having spoken was truly well-written. And wow, they could NOT catch a break regarding transportation!!

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ (4 out of 5 stars)

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this eARC of The Road Trip in exchange for an honest review.

Two exes with a steamy and complicated past have to then take a road trip together with her sister and his annoying best friend… what could possibly go wrong?! Well, when you have 5 people in a Mini Cooper the possibility of things going wrong are endless.

Beth O’Leary does a wonderful job splitting this novel into two timelines of Then and Now to help the audience not only get to know Addie and Dylan’s relationship and past better but also to help build the story and keeps you guessing on what happens next. If you want a hate-to-love romance, some laugh-out-loud moments, and some heartbreak as well, make sure you check out this amazing read that’s perfect for any road trip you take this Summer.

When two exes are forced to take a road trip together, it pushes them to confront their past and the choices they made that ultimately tore them apart.

All right let’s chat about THE ROAD TRIP. I admit I was expecting something more along the lines of her first two books, and while it did have the feel of an O’Leary novel (funny situations, complicated and complex characters), her newest novel packs much more of a punch.

It took me a while to get into the story, but once I hit a certain point, I found it difficult to put down. I wanted to know what was going to be revealed next. For me, I need to have at least one character I’m rooting for or like in order to truly get invested in the story. I liked the present day Dylan and Addie, but the ‘then’ Dylan and Addie took me a minute to warm up to. I had to remind myself that they were both quite young when they first got together (I think around 20/21), and still trying to figure out who they were as adults, struggling to separate themselves from their teenage self and parents.

There are several side characters who add depth and help round out the story and setting. I enjoyed the back-and-forth timelines too. I always find it interesting how and when authors decide to reveal certain things, and it gives the story a bit of suspense which I like. O'Leary is great at having her characters grow and evolve throughout the story, and not only did our two main characters do that in THE ROAD TRIP, but a few of the side characters did as well.

I do wish the cover better reflected the heaviness of the story. I would not call this a light read, and the cover design does lead one to believe that’s what you’ll get. I would have liked it to feel a bit moodier, which I think would have prepared me better for what I was getting into.

This might be an uncommon comparison/recommendation (and maybe I’m way off!), but I think people who enjoyed Normal People and are reluctant readers of romance, might enjoy this one.

CW/TW: sexual assault, drug use, alcoholism, addiction, depression, emotional and verbal abuse

I received a gifted galley of THE ROAD TRIP by Beth O’Leary for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

THE ROAD TRIP finds five people sharing a car due to unforseen circumstances as they head out on the road for a friend’s wedding. Four years prior, two of the car’s occupants, Dylan and Addie, fell in love but the relationship ended badly and they haven’t seen each other since. The book follows two timestreams following the present day group which includes Dylan’s best friend, Addie’s sister, and a stranger they have offered a ride to the wedding. In the alternate chapters, the story unveils Dylan and Addie’s history from when they first met to what went wrong.

This book was not exactly what I expected it to be. In spite of the cute, illustrated cover, this is a book with some darker subject matter that I didn’t expect. I was expecting a bit more of the cute rom-com and less of the emotional trauma and drama.

I enjoyed the present day segments of the book more than the flashbacks and I felt like I wanted more of the present day. It felt like the ‘now’ portions of the book were over a bit too quickly. The present narrative is a comedy of errors – if something can go wrong it certainly will for this group of people and there is a bit of a need to suspend disbelief. Still, I found this a fun, easy read.

The flashback to four years prior, I certainly got the impression that Addie and Dylan made the right decision in breaking up. I did have to remind myself how young they all were. Dylan is very reliant on his best friend, a man who is still in need of some significant maturing in the present day and even drives Dylan a bit crazy at times.

Overall I thought this was a fun read, but it fell a bit flat compared to my expectations. This was my first book by Beth O’Leary. Her writing style was very easy to settle into and I definitely would like to read more from her in the future.

Love Beth O’Leary and normally give 5 enthusiastic stars. Her third outing, Road Trip, is a 4. The first part of the book was hard to get into—I’m not sure why because her other books hooked me right away. It took me a while to develop enough of an interest in Addie and Dylan to keep reading. I actually was more invested in the secondary characters. Oh well. It did get better—I just never really connected. I liked it, But it’s not my favorite.

I got to admit that this is...a bit complicated for me to review. I did not really like Beth O'Leary's The Flatshare, but I was hoping I'd like this book better. Don't get me wrong, I did like it better. I guess it was just a bit boring for me sometimes. I was constantly looking for that spark or the funny moments and only got it for like 40% of the book. I also did not find myself relating or caring for any of the characters as I hoped I would. Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes and I liked that aspect of the story, but it's a little bit insta-love here and it almost felt unreal. I still very much enjoyed the sisterly relationship though. The discussion and approach on mental illness, depression, and therapy were beautiful additions too.